Chapter 491

Isabella took a deep breath, ready to leave, when she suddenly heard footsteps outside the door.

Her heart tightened instantly.

The next second, the door right next to her was knocked on.

Michael's deep, familiar voice came through the thin door. "Isabella, I know you're in there. Can we talk?"

Isabella froze.

She had no idea how Michael knew she was here. Renee would never have given away her location.

But now he was right outside, and all he had to do was push the door open to come in. There was nowhere for her to hide.

Isabella's heart was racing.

What could Michael want to talk about so suddenly? Had he discovered she was helping him behind the scenes, or did he want to fulfill Aiden's wish and reconcile with her?

Whatever it was, she had to face it.

Looking at the gemstone pendant hanging around her neck, Isabella steadied herself, turned the handle, and opened the door.

Michael stood there, his eyes fixed on her, as if he had no doubt she would be here.

Isabella didn't want to get entangled with him any further. She decisively took off the gemstone pendant that Aiden had personally given her and handed it to Michael.

"I couldn't refuse in front of Aiden, but now, this gemstone belongs to its rightful owner."

She understood Aiden's wish to use this pendant to bring them back together. Aiden wanted to see his grandson have a happy family in his final moments, and there was nothing wrong with that.

But her relationship with Michael had gone beyond the point where others' persuasion could mend it.

So, while she could accept the pendant for Aiden's sake, it didn't mean she would forgive Michael for everything he had done to her.

The gemstone, the size of a pigeon egg, glistened warmly in the sunlight, but Michael had no intention of taking it.

He hadn't come here to reclaim the pendant.

If he could, he would want Isabella to wear it for the rest of her life.

This gemstone represented the status of the Brown Family's matriarch. He was thrilled she had accepted it.

"Isabella, this was a gift from Grandpa. I won't take it back. Besides, I didn't come here to talk about this."

Michael said, gripping Isabella's small hand along with the gemstone tightly in his palm.

"Isabella, I was wrong. Can we start over?"

All his words boiled down to this plea, and as he spoke, his voice trembled slightly.

He was nervous and afraid.

He knew there was a high chance Isabella would reject him, but he had to fight for their future.

But Isabella didn't think Michael's apology held much weight.

Just moments ago, he had let Nolan off the hook, even though he knew what Nolan had done to try to take over the Brown Group. She had almost been dragged into the brothers' war.

Thinking of this, Isabella decisively pulled her hand out of Michael's grasp and took a step back.

"Michael, do you really think that just saying you're sorry will make me forgive you and reconcile our marriage?"

Did he even understand what had gone wrong between them?

Did he know what she cared about?

He hadn't figured out anything and thought he could just brush it off?

Sure enough, he was still the same high-and-mighty Michael, thinking a simple apology could fix everything.

He hadn't changed at all.

Seeing Isabella's anger, Michael quickly tried to explain, "That's not what I meant. Don't overthink it. I just want to say let's leave the past behind and focus on our future."

Grandpa's intentions had made him see his own heart clearly.

They both had feelings for each other, so why couldn't they clear up the misunderstandings and get back together?

When Isabella met Michael's deeply affectionate gaze, she understood his purpose for coming here.

But the nameless fire in her heart also flared up.

"Look, Michael," she said through clenched teeth, "we need to be real here. We're divorced. It's over. You're my ex now, and we both need to accept that. So please, stop calling me, stop with all these comments, and just... give me some space, okay?"

Isabella was about to explode with anger.

Was Michael an idiot?

Now he wanted to reconcile, but what was he thinking when they divorced? Where was he then?

When she had mustered the courage to confess her feelings and ask if he liked her, he didn't even have the courage to respond.

Yes, she knew he did everything for her own good, including the divorce, to keep her from getting entangled with the Brown Group and targeted by the Adri Family.

But she didn't care about that. She cared about his attitude.

She had waited for him for years, just wanting to understand how he truly felt.

But he never changed - controlling, demanding, and set in his ways, both in their relationship and everything else.

He never once stopped to consider her feelings.

So how could she easily return to his side just because of an apology?

Unless Michael showed her his true self.

"Isabella, it's not like that. I know I messed up, and I can't bear to lose you again. Please, just give me one more chance."

Michael grabbed Isabella as she turned to leave, his tone sincere as he confessed his feelings.

"I get why you're angry with me-you have every right to be. I was distant, I shut you out, and I never explained myself. That's on me. But I've changed. I understand now what you need in this relationship, what kind of partnership you've always wanted. Just trust me one last time. Don't walk away for good. Let me show you it can be different."

Michael poured out his heart in one breath.

He had overestimated his own possessiveness. As soon as he got the divorce papers, he regretted it.

He feared Isabella would move on before he could resolve the Adri Family's issues. He feared that when he turned around, Isabella would be long gone.

And he would be left with nothing but memories.

This wasn't about pride anymore. If it meant winning Isabella back, he would get down on his knees without hesitation.

"Michael, how many chances do you expect me to give you?" Isabella asked, her voice steady.

The past came flooding back.

She had once loved him with everything she had, even when it meant sacrificing her dignity, only to be met with his cold indifference.

Now he couldn't handle even a fraction of the pain he had once put her through?